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Mr J | Deputy Principal

@mr.j.learning.space

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Helping teachers & school leaders build confident, values-led schools
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Teaching and leading in schools is a wild, rewarding journey and this page is all about keeping it real. 🍎

From practical classroom ideas and leadership insights to the daily reality of school life, what you see here is the unedited version of the job we love.

Whether you’re here for the teaching hacks, leadership reflection or just to feel less alone on the hard days, welcome to this corner of the our digital staffroom community!

Drop a comment below: What’s your no. 1 reason for sticking around on my page? 👇

#instagood #fyp #teacher #school #education by @mr.j.learning.space

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2 months ago

There’s been a lot of people hit follow on my page recently, so for anyone who’s new to my page, this is me

Just a regular educator and school leader, trying to make a difference in the lives of my students and the colleagues that I work with

I’m a
🎙️ podcaster
👨‍🏫 Deputy Principal & aspiring Principal
📚 uni student, studying a Master Educational Leadership
👨 dad of two girls
💍 husband of a teacher librarian

These are my big 3 values
🧑‍🏫 excellence in teaching & learning
🏫 creating inclusive classrooms & schools
👥 building quality relationships

I’m all about teaching and leadership that’s focused on connection, calm and a human-first approach

#teacher #teachers #teachersofinstagram #instagood #fyp by @mr.j.learning.space

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3 months ago

From a chaotic school holiday grocery run to the pages of a magazine... 🛒📖

Earlier in the year, I posted about how we use our school holiday @costco_aus trips to get organised and make the busy school term run smoothly. Next thing I knew, Costco was in my DMs wanting to do a feature!

Picking up the July/August edition of Costco Connection Magazine at the store exit and seeing my story in print was honestly so surreal. It’s a funny, unexpected little milestone, but I’m so glad I have it to look back on.

Proudest of all are the kids, who have already packed a copy ready to take to school next term for news. 🥹

Have a read next time you’re in-store by grabbing a copy or you can check it out online! 🙌

#costco #dadlife #teacher #instagood #fyp by @mr.j.learning.space

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3 months ago

It’s officially done. Final assignment submitted! 🎓✨

Swipe through for a quick look at the end of a 3-year journey!

Holding that final submission screen feels completely surreal. When I started my Master of Educational Leadership at @uow, I knew it would challenge me, but I had no idea just how much it would transform the way I lead, think and serve the school communities I’ve had the privilege of working in.

Looking back at the numbers, it feels like a blur of sheer grit and dedication:

📚 3 years of balancing work, family, life and study

📖 6 rigorous subjects filled with countless online lectures + tutorials, policy papers and late-night readings

📝 16 major assignments and this final intensive research project

💡 50% credit awarded

🏅 received a Department of Education School Leadership Institute Scholarship to support me through the process

To go from day one to handing in the final research project for my last subject is a feeling I can’t quite put into words.

Honestly, sitting here tonight without a reading list or an impending deadline feels weirdly empty, I’m not even sure what to do with my free time now! 😂

Beyond the grades, I’ve deeply loved every single moment of the learning. It has stretched my perspective, deepened my practice and shaped me into a far more reflective and empathetic leader.

Now, the waiting game begins for those final results and hopefully, walking across the stage to officially graduate in early 2027! 🥂🎓

Thank you to my family, friends, work colleagues and everyone in this community who have supported, encouraged and cheered me on through the late nights and busy assignment weeks. We made it!

💬 COMMUNITY QUESTION: For my fellow educators and leaders who completed postgraduate study, what did you do with your time after graduating?! Drop your ideas below because I need hobbies!

❤️ LIKE & SAVE to celebrate this milestone with me!

✈️ SHARE this post with a teacher or aspiring leader considering taking the leap into further study!

#teacher #university #life #celebration #graduation by @mr.j.learning.space

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8 hours ago

They see me rollin’, they hatin’… because we are officially zooming into Term 4: The Christmas Countdown! 🛴🎄🎅✨

Is there any adrenaline rush quite like rolling into the final term of the school year? The finish line is finally in sight, the countdown to summer break is officially on and every teacher and school leader in the building is running on pure festive momentum, caffeine and holiday hope.

Sure, Term 4 is a marathon of concerts, reports and end-of-year chaos, but we are riding into it with our eyes firmly on the prize! 😎

Let’s make this final stretch one to remember, keep our boundaries strong and enjoy every second of the home stretch before Christmas break.

🔔 Follow @mr.j.learning.space for daily teacher humour, school leadership tips and survival hacks for the final term!

💬 COMMENT BELOW: On a scale of 1 to “already wrapping presents,” how ready are you for Term 4? Let’s hear it!

✈️ SHARE this reel with your teacher bestie who is ready to ride into the final term!

❤️ LIKE & SAVE if you are pumped for the Christmas countdown term!

#backtoschool #teacher #school #instagood #fyp by @mr.j.learning.space

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9 hours ago

MONDAY MOTIVATION

It’s no secret that there’s many things in life we can’t control. There’s so many things that we happen to us, but we choose how we respond to them

Each day is an opportunity to assess the conditions and adjust our sails accordingly. Sailing isn’t always smooth but storms are part of a journey and they provide an opportunity for us to adapt, grow, reflect and refine the way we do what we do

Wishing you a great week ahead friends

📷: @_world_selfish

#monday #motivation #wellbeing #quote #mentalhealth by @mr.j.learning.space

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19 hours ago

Social battery status: 0% and dropping, but duty calls! 🪫🏫✨

If you’ve spent the entire school break in total isolation, wearing tracksuit pants and only speaking to your cat, walking back into school for a staff meeting is a psychological extreme sport.

One minute you’re trying to project cool, calm and collected, and the next you’re over-compensating with so much fake enthusiasm that you sound like a deranged game show host. “OH MY GOD, SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU!” 😅🎭

Let’s be honest: we all need a 3 to 5 business days transition period before we can handle small talk before 8:00 AM.

🔔 Follow @mr.j.learning.space for relatable teacher humour, back-to-school survival tips and sustainable classroom and school leadership strategies!

💬 COMMENT BELOW: Scale of 1 to “hiding in the stationery cupboard,” how ready are you to talk to adults and small humans again this term? Let’s share a laugh!

✈️ SHARE this reel with a teacher bestie who needs to practice their back-to-school smile!

❤️ LIKE & SAVE if you’ve had this exact mirror conversation before heading to work!

#backtoschool #teacher #school #education #instagood by @mr.j.learning.space

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2 days ago

Grateful for the rest that this week brought and feeling ready for Term 4 to kick off tomorrow

How was your week?

#teacher #teacherlife #schoolholidays #school #instagood by @mr.j.learning.space

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a day ago

Me sitting in the principal’s chair on Day 1 of the new term, plotting how to run the entire school, support staff AND survive Week 1 like an absolute mastermind… 🦹‍♂️🏫🪑

Stepping into a Relieving Principal role entering a new term is equal parts exciting and intense. When you’re steering the ship, everyone looks to you for direction, which means having a rock-solid survival strategy isn’t optional; it’s essential for keeping school culture grounded and calm.

Here is my 3-step plan for mastering Week 1 as a Relieving Principal:

1️⃣ Prioritise Presence Over Paperwork: Step away from the office desk during drop-off, recess and lunch. Walking the grounds and being visible builds immediate trust with staff, students, and parents far faster than answering emails will.

2️⃣ Protect Staff Energy: Keep Week 1 staff meetings lean, focused and actionable. Your team is adjusting to term routines, don’t overload them with new initiatives on Day 2. Give them space to teach.

3️⃣ Establish Clear Triage Boundaries: Not every email or pop-in is a Level 5 emergency. Filter requests: what needs your immediate executive decision, what can be delegated and what can wait until Friday prep?

Execute the strategy, lead with empathy and rule the term! ⏱️✨

🔔 Follow @mr.j.learning.space for educational leadership insights, teacher workload hacks and school leadership survival strategies!

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What’s your no. 1 piece of advice for taking on a relieving leadership role at the start of a term? Drop your wisdom below!

✈️ SHARE this reel with an aspiring or current school leader stepping into a big role this term!

❤️ LIKE & SAVE this post if you’re taking on new leadership responsibilities this year!

#principal #leadership #school #teacher #education by @mr.j.learning.space

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3 days ago

Actual footage of teachers as they head back to school

TAG a teacher who’s calling on a higher power to grant them the strength they need to get through it

SEND to their inbox or REPOST

#backtoschool #education #school #teacher #instagood by @mr.j.learning.space

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7 days ago

How we keep our weekly grocery bill LOW with a strategic Costco run! 🛒💸 Swipe through to see our holiday restock setup for our family of 4!

I get so many questions and requests asking how we make our grocery budget stretch during the school term without sacrificing convenience. The secret isn’t shopping at Costco every single week, it’s doing one targeted holiday restock to prep for the weeks ahead!

By getting ahead of the term, we avoid mid-week emergency supermarket runs that drain our bank account. Here are 3 non-negotiable tips we use to keep costs down:

1️⃣ Buy snack bulk-packs for the term: Buying individual lunchbox snacks week-by-week adds up fast. Grab large multi-packs during holiday runs. The cost-per-unit is way cheaper and you can stock your pantry for weeks.

2️⃣ Slice & freeze bakery items: Costco bakery portions are huge! Slice up croissants, muffins or scrolls immediately, wrap them and throw them in the freezer. Just pull them out in the morning for fresh lunchbox treats!

3️⃣ Portion & freeze bulk meat: Buying large meat packs saves serious money. Weight out individual dinner portions into freezer bags as soon as you get home. You only thaw what you need, eliminating food waste.

Prep once during the break, save all term long! 💡✨

💬 COMMUNITY QUESTION: What’s your top tip or go-to item for saving money on your weekly grocery shop? Drop your best hacks in the comments!

❤️ LIKE this post if you love a good budget grocery breakdown!

✈️ SHARE this with a friend or family member who wants to lower their food bill this term!

💾 SAVE this post for inspiration before your next Costco run!

#costco #grocery #shopping #budget #costofliving by @mr.j.learning.space

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2 days ago

UNFILTERED FRIDAY

Week 2 of holidays has been filled with some pretty “high moments”

Grateful to feel relaxed, refreshed and ready for whatever Term 4 wants to throw at me

How was your week?

#nofilter #teacher #teacherlife #instagood #friday by @mr.j.learning.space

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3 days ago